Here goes my first blog entry finally! I am starting with the thoughts I had in mind that I ponder on everytime I encounter a familiar situation. bear with the length of the post as I was lazy enough to cut it short. but i am sure you will like it and it will be helpful for everyone here.
I read this in the masjid yesterday. couldn't prepare to speak without seeing. so its kind of very descriptive and as it is...
Bismillah Hirrahmaan Nirraheem - All praise is to Allah, the most beneficent and merciful
Alhamdulilla he rabbil alameen – All praise is to Allah, the creator of this universe
Arrahmaan nirraheem – The Compassionate, The Merciful
Maliki yaumiddeen – Master of the Day of Judgment
Brothers, today my talk will mostly be focused on the Day of Judgment, the preparation we are making for it and some of the good qualities which every Muslim can try to adapt. I title my lecture as “Is your luggage packed for the journey”, the journey which can start anytime – by the command of Allah SWT your soul can leave your body right at any moment.
To start with let me tell you that this is the first time ever I am standing in front of a crowd like this and sharing some of my knowledge about our deen which I believe every person as a Muslim should be aware of. I am no close to a perfect Muslim but I struggle to be one…I am making an honest and humble attempt which everyone sitting here has to make, because it is an obligation on every Muslim to spread the word of Allah SWT.
You may not follow whatever I speak today but once I remind you, it kind of I am reminding myself. And after this, if I go away or ignore anything I speak it will inshallah make me feel guilty and will inshallah bring me closer to my religion.
Take whatever good I speak; leave out what you don’t understand. Alhamdulillah everyone sitting here is sensible enough to judge between right, doubtful and wrong. I lack the perfection so may Allah forgive me for this.
Being a Muslim, every person on this planet is aware that one day he will be dead and the chapter of his life in this world will come to an end. Somewhere in his subconscious mind, a thought also sits that there is a never ending life waiting for him after his death. Truly his worldly life is a preparation for the life to come. There are various verses in quran in which Allah SWT gives indications to mankind that his worldly life is a drop in the ocean, and the ocean implies to his life of eternity. If a man thinks rationally why is he different from other creatures in this world, what distinguishes him from animals, what could be the reason he is blessed with a brain, he will surely come to a conclusion that there is someone uncontrollable, invincible, marvelous power, who is in control of all this. AllahuAkbar, it is none other than the only ONE, the one who we believe in and to whom we will return and give hisaab of what we did with the brain he gave us, what we did with the tongue he gave us, were we thankful to the mercies he bestowed onto us?
In the first place itself, think how lucky we are to be born as a Muslim. Brothers I will make you to think a lot today. Ponder over everything around you, and this will inshallah make you and me more and more thankful to Allah SWT.
When we are born, as a child we are sinless and a perfect human. Gradually we grow up, in an environment where there are all kind of people. We struggle half the time in our life to make the next half more better. In this struggle, we forget or just neglect the very purpose of our life. We forget why we were made different, why we are given a chance. I am not talking of an ideal case here. There are people among us Ahamdulillah who knew the very purpose of life. We follow our beloved Prophet Mohammed SAW who has shown us a complete way of life. The kind of life that has been lived by him and it is possible for every Muslim to follow him and improve his life through his teachings.
We should take pride in being a Muslim. But never should be proud of being a white or an Arab or American or something else. Allah created all humans from same substance. When He doesn’t make any distinction then how dare we can? Let’s say you were born in a Jew or a Christian family. Let’s say a well practicing Christian family. Imagine how difficult it would have been for us in this kind of society to understand Islam and get attracted towards it. Understand that it is ONLY Allah who has power on everything and whatever he wills is bound to happen. We have an example of Abu Talib, the uncle of Prophet Mohammed SAW. Inspite of being a very kind and highly respected person in the society with all good qualities, he died not as a Muslim (kaafir). So being born as a Muslim and just ruin ones own life, only a mad person can do this. If a person understands this importance of himself, then there will be nothing in between him and Allah SWT.
Now I will pinpoint some good qualities a Muslim can easily adapt to.
Be humble, as Allah SWT has told us to be. Set yourself as an example to others. Share your knowledge and accept knowledge from others gracefully. Every Muslim has an obligation towards his faith that he should make an attempt to propagate it. Today I am making a humble attempt, and inshallah everyone can try for it. Be good in appearance, your looks, the way you speak etc.
I might make you to think and question yourself a lot here. For this again, you need the weapon that Allah SWT has provided you and made you distinguishable from every other creature on this planet. Look at the big picture… look around your surroundings, look at the flat hard surface on which you walk, think about the thick blue cover on top of you, the sky that provides you with rain. Who has created all this? How much time it might have taken to design? Why is all this created on the first place…? Is it just lying out there without any purpose?
On the other hand, think in a smaller sense; look at the creatures that crawl on the ground that are barely visible to our eyes, with perfect body, from head to toe. Who has put life in them? What is their purpose of being existent? What is your purpose of existence? Should there be a difference in the purpose of creating of you and me and all these other forms of life. Every sane person will have an answer to these questions.
You were born on some day, some hour some time. Did you decide by yourself to enter the world this time? No…. You are aware that you will leave this world sometime. Is that time known to you? Definitely not…
It will be the Almighty’s call that will present us before him. Why is he calling you back?? He gave us something and he wants to know how we have used it, and what we have done with it. He gave us a body, he gave us the most precious of all, the imaan, and he alone has the right to question us about it. Same way if you borrow something from a person and return it after a while, he will do the inspection before taking it back. If the borrowed thing was very expensive or cannot be counted in terms of its value, and if you did not return it as it was, then surely you have to pay for it. Remember Allah is more forgiving, but also remember that he is all knowing, he has sent messenger’s and books to warn you and me and to guide us as well.
You are aware that you can die anytime. Go out of your home, and if Allah wants you back he can make you hit by a car, or he can make you unreactive all of a sudden. What ends here? What will be next? Did you take something with you before leaving? Nothing… After few hours, you will just be wrapped in a piece of white cloth. But yes, absolutely your good deeds, your aamaal will go with you. Take your good deeds with you, take as many as you have, there is no weight or size limitation. Of course our fortunes will already reached the destination, in front of Allah SWT right before we face him.
Let me give you a practical example so that as a human we understand these holy words in a much better way.
Now just imagine the case where, you go to a relatives place and before you reach there, you sent them a very pleasant gift. How will be there reaction, how will they greet you and how will they behave with you. It is the same way with Allah SWT as well, you carry your good deeds with you and that’s what Allah SWT is waiting for to welcome you.
Another example…Suppose you have an interview. Beforehand you will know the time when it is fixed. You know what the requirements are and what is expected out of you. What if got an urgent call, and you don’t meet the requirements as well...you don’t have any choice but to accept the interview call, you leave in a hurry, without any preparation. How are you going to face then? What will be the outcome?
Allah warns mankind in the quran saying, Kullu nafsin zaikhatul maut – every nafs will taste the death- brothers, just analyze how strong and fierce this small sentence is… u got hit by a car, gets wound somewhere on a small part of the body, the pain becomes unbearable – when Allah SWT says every nafs will taste death, then nauzubillah if something worse is kept for us in the hereafter, then there is no mention of the agony it can cause. Indeed Allah is all forgiving for those who believe.
Sabar is another greatest quality a man can possess. The fundamental problem with today’s man is, he expects quick results. He works because he knows he will get paid for it in 15 or 30 days. He learns something for the sake of job because he know what the result will be if he doesn’t do that. He might lose his job or might lose respect for his work if he doesn’t perform well. Ok now, what is he doing for akhirah? Is he not aware of it? It can’t be the case, he knows everything…but he ignores death and akhirah in near future. That’s his blind assumption which makes him restless in this world and perhaps can make his akhirah restless as well. So the point is, remember your death every day, every moment, this will help you inshallah in refraining from even minor sins.
Another good quality is controlling your anger. Allah SWT tells us at many places in quran to control our anger, as anger is the worst enemy. Anger comes from shaitan. When you are angry you lose control over your mind. In situations remember the sayings of our beloved prophet Mohammed SAW.
Lets speak about Quran – Quran…read it understand it. I read quran in Arabic many times, though unaware of what the message is, except knowing the meaning of few surah . This copy which you see in my hand, I picked it few weeks back from the shelf here. I read the small surah’s first with translation and got interest in it. Alhamdulillah Allah promises us - if you walk towards me I will run towards you – this means make an effort and Allah will guide you from there on. So Alhamdulillah I have completed surah bawaqa, may be the longest chapter in quran – and I was completely mesmerized by the beauty of quran, Alhamdulillah just in 50 pages out of 700 I learnt so many qualities and good deeds that I feel confident today to share this knowledge with you all. And I am excited that I have still lot more to learn and this is not the ending. And understand that its never too late to gain knowledge, its an ongoing process, but also keep in mind that your time in this world is not fixed. A person taking an action on time is considered to be a wise man. A Muslim should never be self satisfied with his knowledge, there is always scope to learn more, and keep in mind one thing “you cannot improve on what you don’t measure” that means if you don’t measure what is the extent of your knowledge and is happy with what you know, then you don’t feel the need to improve yourself? Right? So measure yourself in your deen , in your deeds, and struggle to improve – that’s how the life of a muslim should be. The young people among us should consider themselves lucky, that if they realize the purpose of there life now, then inshallah they can build a good akhirah for themselves. Be linked to your community – if u r not then you won’t realize in no time how far you will be gone from your religion.
Another good quality a man should try to adopt is to earn Sawabe jariah or sadqe jariah – It is the sawaab we get on performing a noble deed and which gets multiplied over time. For example, you give a ride to a person who doesn’t have a car, it’s a good deed and you will be paid in good by Allah SWT for it. But this sawaab is for one time. On the other hand, if you donate a wheel chair to hospital, every time a sick person uses it, you will be gaining sawaab inshallah, even when you are dead. Other acts can be - take part in building a masjid – distribute a copy of hadeeth or quran – share your knowledge with someone even if it is a single ayat.
Distinguish between halal and haraam. Abstain from riba. We should be strict in whatever we follow. Remember that there is no leniency in Allah’s commands to mankind.
The life of a Muslim is a test in this world – Allah SWT says in Quran, “we shall surely test you with fear and hunger, loss of property and lives and crops. Be steadfast. Allah is with those who are steadfast.”
In the last few ayats of surah buqarah, Allah SWT establishes a rule for Muslims in how money or goods related dealings should be made. this is the longest ayat in the quran, that states a complete transaction law. Allah says here, “Whether you make known what is in your minds or hide them; Allah will bring you to account for them.” At the time, when these verses were revealed, the sahaba of those times got terrified and alarmed with the enormous responsibility implied by these and the related verses. In the last ayat, Allah SWT consoles them and lessens there burden.
You might have listened what I am reciting next many times in prayer or an imam making dua, but for those who do not understand Arabic like me, let me read it out…
La yukallifula hu nafsan illa wus aha……”Allah does not charge a soul with more then what it can bear”. Understand the beauty of this verse. Try to apply whatever you listen whatever you read to your life. Quran is not a fictional story book... it is a complete way of life…that means it can be well applied in your lives practically, in any situation.
Then following this, Allah SWT bestows us with a dua to end this surah beautifully. They can’t be an ending perfect then this… it contains the essence of Islam ie submission to the divine will.
Let’s pray to Allah to make us a better Muslim each day, to guide us to the right path, to make us aware of what is halal and what is haraam,
Rabbana latu-akhizna innaseena auakhtana….
To start with let me tell you that this is the first time ever I am standing in front of a crowd like this and sharing some of my knowledge about our deen which I believe every person as a Muslim should be aware of. I am no close to a perfect Muslim but I struggle to be one…I am making an honest and humble attempt which everyone sitting here has to make, because it is an obligation on every Muslim to spread the word of Allah SWT.
You may not follow whatever I speak today but once I remind you, it kind of I am reminding myself. And after this, if I go away or ignore anything I speak it will inshallah make me feel guilty and will inshallah bring me closer to my religion.
Take whatever good I speak; leave out what you don’t understand. Alhamdulillah everyone sitting here is sensible enough to judge between right, doubtful and wrong. I lack the perfection so may Allah forgive me for this.
Being a Muslim, every person on this planet is aware that one day he will be dead and the chapter of his life in this world will come to an end. Somewhere in his subconscious mind, a thought also sits that there is a never ending life waiting for him after his death. Truly his worldly life is a preparation for the life to come. There are various verses in quran in which Allah SWT gives indications to mankind that his worldly life is a drop in the ocean, and the ocean implies to his life of eternity. If a man thinks rationally why is he different from other creatures in this world, what distinguishes him from animals, what could be the reason he is blessed with a brain, he will surely come to a conclusion that there is someone uncontrollable, invincible, marvelous power, who is in control of all this. AllahuAkbar, it is none other than the only ONE, the one who we believe in and to whom we will return and give hisaab of what we did with the brain he gave us, what we did with the tongue he gave us, were we thankful to the mercies he bestowed onto us?
In the first place itself, think how lucky we are to be born as a Muslim. Brothers I will make you to think a lot today. Ponder over everything around you, and this will inshallah make you and me more and more thankful to Allah SWT.
When we are born, as a child we are sinless and a perfect human. Gradually we grow up, in an environment where there are all kind of people. We struggle half the time in our life to make the next half more better. In this struggle, we forget or just neglect the very purpose of our life. We forget why we were made different, why we are given a chance. I am not talking of an ideal case here. There are people among us Ahamdulillah who knew the very purpose of life. We follow our beloved Prophet Mohammed SAW who has shown us a complete way of life. The kind of life that has been lived by him and it is possible for every Muslim to follow him and improve his life through his teachings.
We should take pride in being a Muslim. But never should be proud of being a white or an Arab or American or something else. Allah created all humans from same substance. When He doesn’t make any distinction then how dare we can? Let’s say you were born in a Jew or a Christian family. Let’s say a well practicing Christian family. Imagine how difficult it would have been for us in this kind of society to understand Islam and get attracted towards it. Understand that it is ONLY Allah who has power on everything and whatever he wills is bound to happen. We have an example of Abu Talib, the uncle of Prophet Mohammed SAW. Inspite of being a very kind and highly respected person in the society with all good qualities, he died not as a Muslim (kaafir). So being born as a Muslim and just ruin ones own life, only a mad person can do this. If a person understands this importance of himself, then there will be nothing in between him and Allah SWT.
Now I will pinpoint some good qualities a Muslim can easily adapt to.
Be humble, as Allah SWT has told us to be. Set yourself as an example to others. Share your knowledge and accept knowledge from others gracefully. Every Muslim has an obligation towards his faith that he should make an attempt to propagate it. Today I am making a humble attempt, and inshallah everyone can try for it. Be good in appearance, your looks, the way you speak etc.
I might make you to think and question yourself a lot here. For this again, you need the weapon that Allah SWT has provided you and made you distinguishable from every other creature on this planet. Look at the big picture… look around your surroundings, look at the flat hard surface on which you walk, think about the thick blue cover on top of you, the sky that provides you with rain. Who has created all this? How much time it might have taken to design? Why is all this created on the first place…? Is it just lying out there without any purpose?
On the other hand, think in a smaller sense; look at the creatures that crawl on the ground that are barely visible to our eyes, with perfect body, from head to toe. Who has put life in them? What is their purpose of being existent? What is your purpose of existence? Should there be a difference in the purpose of creating of you and me and all these other forms of life. Every sane person will have an answer to these questions.
You were born on some day, some hour some time. Did you decide by yourself to enter the world this time? No…. You are aware that you will leave this world sometime. Is that time known to you? Definitely not…
It will be the Almighty’s call that will present us before him. Why is he calling you back?? He gave us something and he wants to know how we have used it, and what we have done with it. He gave us a body, he gave us the most precious of all, the imaan, and he alone has the right to question us about it. Same way if you borrow something from a person and return it after a while, he will do the inspection before taking it back. If the borrowed thing was very expensive or cannot be counted in terms of its value, and if you did not return it as it was, then surely you have to pay for it. Remember Allah is more forgiving, but also remember that he is all knowing, he has sent messenger’s and books to warn you and me and to guide us as well.
You are aware that you can die anytime. Go out of your home, and if Allah wants you back he can make you hit by a car, or he can make you unreactive all of a sudden. What ends here? What will be next? Did you take something with you before leaving? Nothing… After few hours, you will just be wrapped in a piece of white cloth. But yes, absolutely your good deeds, your aamaal will go with you. Take your good deeds with you, take as many as you have, there is no weight or size limitation. Of course our fortunes will already reached the destination, in front of Allah SWT right before we face him.
Let me give you a practical example so that as a human we understand these holy words in a much better way.
Now just imagine the case where, you go to a relatives place and before you reach there, you sent them a very pleasant gift. How will be there reaction, how will they greet you and how will they behave with you. It is the same way with Allah SWT as well, you carry your good deeds with you and that’s what Allah SWT is waiting for to welcome you.
Another example…Suppose you have an interview. Beforehand you will know the time when it is fixed. You know what the requirements are and what is expected out of you. What if got an urgent call, and you don’t meet the requirements as well...you don’t have any choice but to accept the interview call, you leave in a hurry, without any preparation. How are you going to face then? What will be the outcome?
Allah warns mankind in the quran saying, Kullu nafsin zaikhatul maut – every nafs will taste the death- brothers, just analyze how strong and fierce this small sentence is… u got hit by a car, gets wound somewhere on a small part of the body, the pain becomes unbearable – when Allah SWT says every nafs will taste death, then nauzubillah if something worse is kept for us in the hereafter, then there is no mention of the agony it can cause. Indeed Allah is all forgiving for those who believe.
Sabar is another greatest quality a man can possess. The fundamental problem with today’s man is, he expects quick results. He works because he knows he will get paid for it in 15 or 30 days. He learns something for the sake of job because he know what the result will be if he doesn’t do that. He might lose his job or might lose respect for his work if he doesn’t perform well. Ok now, what is he doing for akhirah? Is he not aware of it? It can’t be the case, he knows everything…but he ignores death and akhirah in near future. That’s his blind assumption which makes him restless in this world and perhaps can make his akhirah restless as well. So the point is, remember your death every day, every moment, this will help you inshallah in refraining from even minor sins.
Another good quality is controlling your anger. Allah SWT tells us at many places in quran to control our anger, as anger is the worst enemy. Anger comes from shaitan. When you are angry you lose control over your mind. In situations remember the sayings of our beloved prophet Mohammed SAW.
Lets speak about Quran – Quran…read it understand it. I read quran in Arabic many times, though unaware of what the message is, except knowing the meaning of few surah . This copy which you see in my hand, I picked it few weeks back from the shelf here. I read the small surah’s first with translation and got interest in it. Alhamdulillah Allah promises us - if you walk towards me I will run towards you – this means make an effort and Allah will guide you from there on. So Alhamdulillah I have completed surah bawaqa, may be the longest chapter in quran – and I was completely mesmerized by the beauty of quran, Alhamdulillah just in 50 pages out of 700 I learnt so many qualities and good deeds that I feel confident today to share this knowledge with you all. And I am excited that I have still lot more to learn and this is not the ending. And understand that its never too late to gain knowledge, its an ongoing process, but also keep in mind that your time in this world is not fixed. A person taking an action on time is considered to be a wise man. A Muslim should never be self satisfied with his knowledge, there is always scope to learn more, and keep in mind one thing “you cannot improve on what you don’t measure” that means if you don’t measure what is the extent of your knowledge and is happy with what you know, then you don’t feel the need to improve yourself? Right? So measure yourself in your deen , in your deeds, and struggle to improve – that’s how the life of a muslim should be. The young people among us should consider themselves lucky, that if they realize the purpose of there life now, then inshallah they can build a good akhirah for themselves. Be linked to your community – if u r not then you won’t realize in no time how far you will be gone from your religion.
Another good quality a man should try to adopt is to earn Sawabe jariah or sadqe jariah – It is the sawaab we get on performing a noble deed and which gets multiplied over time. For example, you give a ride to a person who doesn’t have a car, it’s a good deed and you will be paid in good by Allah SWT for it. But this sawaab is for one time. On the other hand, if you donate a wheel chair to hospital, every time a sick person uses it, you will be gaining sawaab inshallah, even when you are dead. Other acts can be - take part in building a masjid – distribute a copy of hadeeth or quran – share your knowledge with someone even if it is a single ayat.
Distinguish between halal and haraam. Abstain from riba. We should be strict in whatever we follow. Remember that there is no leniency in Allah’s commands to mankind.
The life of a Muslim is a test in this world – Allah SWT says in Quran, “we shall surely test you with fear and hunger, loss of property and lives and crops. Be steadfast. Allah is with those who are steadfast.”
In the last few ayats of surah buqarah, Allah SWT establishes a rule for Muslims in how money or goods related dealings should be made. this is the longest ayat in the quran, that states a complete transaction law. Allah says here, “Whether you make known what is in your minds or hide them; Allah will bring you to account for them.” At the time, when these verses were revealed, the sahaba of those times got terrified and alarmed with the enormous responsibility implied by these and the related verses. In the last ayat, Allah SWT consoles them and lessens there burden.
You might have listened what I am reciting next many times in prayer or an imam making dua, but for those who do not understand Arabic like me, let me read it out…
La yukallifula hu nafsan illa wus aha……”Allah does not charge a soul with more then what it can bear”. Understand the beauty of this verse. Try to apply whatever you listen whatever you read to your life. Quran is not a fictional story book... it is a complete way of life…that means it can be well applied in your lives practically, in any situation.
Then following this, Allah SWT bestows us with a dua to end this surah beautifully. They can’t be an ending perfect then this… it contains the essence of Islam ie submission to the divine will.
Let’s pray to Allah to make us a better Muslim each day, to guide us to the right path, to make us aware of what is halal and what is haraam,
Rabbana latu-akhizna innaseena auakhtana….
La ilaha illa anta subhanaka inni kuntu minazzalimeen – There is no God but You; Glory be to You, Truly I have been one of the wrongdoers. Verses from Surah al-Anbiyah [21: 87]
This dua was made by Younis alaihissalaam to Allah SWT when he was in the belly of the big fish. He says here, “truly I have been one of the wrong doers”. By this I end my lecture leaving you and myself reminded again how much wrongdoers are we compared to the sahaba of the prophets era. Indeed there is no comparison.
Jazakallah khair.
